Mervyn Johns
Biography
Mervyn Johns was a Welsh actor who worked extensively in film, television and the theater, amassing more than 100 credits between 1923 and 1979. Born in Pembroke, he trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art and graduated in 1924, having made his stage debut a year earlier while touring. His first screen part came in Lady in Danger in 1934, and he moved from supporting roles to leading ones in the 1940s and 1950s. During the Second World War he became a fixture of British cinema, appearing in Went the Day Well? (1942) and Dead of Night (1945). He was a regular character player at Ealing Studios, with parts in The Captive Heart (1946) and Scrooge (1951), and he later took smaller roles in films and on television.
93years old at death
- Born Pembroke
- Died Northwood
- Star sign: AquariusLast day of the sign, on the Pisces cusp
- Also credited as David Mervyn Johns, David Mervyn John and Mervyn John
Movie Career
- Films
- 14
- Career span
- 37 years1939 to 1976
First and latest
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A change of course
Mervyn Johns trained as a medical student at Royal London Hospital before a concert pianist he met there encouraged him to switch to drama, and he then enrolled at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art.
Early training
After he graduated from the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in 1924, Johns appeared in various West End productions during the 1920s. His West End debut came with London's Grand Guignol, a Comedy Theatre production directed by Lewis Casson.
A role that slipped away
Johns replaced Robert Donat as Captain Shotover in the 1943 production of Heartbreak House, and also played Dolittle in Pygmalion in 1947.
First role
Johns was cast as Harold Simpson in The Happy Sunday Afternoon, an episode of BBC Sunday Night Theatre, in 1950. This was his television series debut, coming relatively late in his career.
Mervyn Johns movies on Netflix
Best known for
The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.
Most often with
Alberto Cavalcanti directed two of these films. Four actors appear in three of them each. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.
Films together
Harry Andrews's page
Michael Redgrave's page
Basil Radford's page
Janette Scott's page
Kirk Douglas's page
James Robertson Justice's page
Alberto CavalcantiDirector, 2 films, 1942 to 1945
All films by Alberto Cavalcanti
Also two films together10 more actors
- Miles MallesonScrooge (1951) and Dead of Night (1945)
- Francis De WolffMoby Dick (1956) and Scrooge (1951)
- Leo Genn55 Days at Peking (1963) and Moby Dick (1956)
- Leslie BanksWent the Day Well? (1942) and Jamaica Inn (1939)
- Basil SydneyThe Devil's Disciple (1959) and Went the Day Well? (1942)
- Jim O'BradyThe Day of the Triffids (1963) and The Old Dark House (1963)
- Jack WarnerScrooge (1951) and The Captive Heart (1946)
- Ralph MichaelThe Heroes of Telemark (1965) and Dead of Night (1945)
- Gladys HensonDoctor at Large (1957) and The Captive Heart (1946)
- Robert WyndhamThe Captive Heart (1946) and Dead of Night (1945)
When several people share the same number of films, the ones with the most films on Netflix are in the chart.
Online
Official profiles and reference pages.